S.D. POLICE LOWRIDER MAKES INROADS INTO COMMUNITY

Converted vehicle an effort to improve ties with residents

San Diego 
The lowrider community and the San Diego Police Department gathered in a Skyline park last week for the unveiling of a police car that is unlike any other.

The 2007 Crown Victoria — a former patrol car — had been transformed into a lowrider that any aficionado would be proud of.

Dubbed “The Guardian,” the reborn vehicle features custom paint, chrome rims and the signature hydraulics that lift lowriders up and down.

Lowrider community liaison Mayra Nuñez came to the department three years ago with the idea to build a car.

“We are trying to bridge the gap between police and the lowrider community,” said Nuñez, whose organization represents about 13 car clubs in the San Diego County.

The car will help erase the stigma associated with lowriders and demonstrate a working relationship between the community and the Police Department, Nuñez said.

The vehicle cost about $50,000 and was paid for with donations. All of the labor was done by volunteers from local body shops and businesses, Nuñez said.

It features a black-and-white custom paint job, custom lettering and pinstripes, 14-inch spoke wheels and a hand-painted mural on the trunk that took about 80 hours to complete.

The artwork depicts a police officer standing at Euclid and Imperial avenues with the San Diego skyline in the background. The scene, bordered by angels, shows the officer holding the hands of two children and carrying a third.

The badge numbers of San Diego police officers Jeremy Henwood and Christopher Wilson, who were both killed in the line of duty, are painted on the car.

Officer Gerardo Serrano, who spearheaded the project, said it was fitting for the two officers to be represented, as they gave their lives for the community.

“This car is a symbol of the movement forward, and another step to really create the relationships that make cities safe,” Police Chief Bill Lansdowne said.

The chief got into the car and demonstrated the hydraulics as about 75 people looked on and applauded.